3.6" Orpiment On Barite Crystals - Peru

This is a beautiful specimen of clear barite crystals that formed in association with bright orange orpiment, collected from Peru. The barite crystals are well defined and the orpiment has a rich orange coloration. It measures 3.6" wide and would make an excellent addition to any mineral collection. Small pyrite crystals can be found peppered throughout the specimen.

It comes with an acrylic display stand.

Orpiment is a bright orange to yellow arsenic sulfide mineral. Its name is derived from the latin phrase auripigmentum, meaning “gold pigment”. It is frequently found as a decay byproduct and in association with another arsenic mineral, realgar. Orpiment crystals are commonly found in dense groupings containing small, prismatic crystals, often with chisel-shaped or triangular pyramidal terminations.

Orpiment contains a significant amount of the poisonous mineral arsenic. While it’s not going to pose a health hazard sitting on a shelf, it’s recommended that you wash your hands after handling it.

Barite, commonly spelled baryte, is well-known for its great range of colors and varied crystal forms and habits. = It is a heavy mineral consisting of barium sulfate, and typically has the chemical formula of BaSO4. The barite group consists of baryte, celestine, anglesite, and anhydrite. It is generally white to colorless and is the main source of barium.

The mineral pyrite, also known as iron pyrite, is commonly referred to as Fool's Gold because its metallic luster and pale brass-yellow hue give it a superficial resemblance to gold. In the old mining days, pyrite was sometimes mistaken for gold.

It is the most common of the sulfide minerals with the chemical formula FeS2. Pyrite crystals occur in many shapes and habits, including cubes of all sizes, penetration twin cubes, pyritohedral clusters and as small druzy crystals that can exhibit a beautiful glistening effect.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Barite, Pyrite & Orpiment
LOCATION
Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, Peru
SIZE
3.6 x 3"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#133101